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UPDATE: Langley community gardens remain closed

‘Confusion’ over status after province declares them an essential service
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Linwood Park community garden in Langley City is among the shut down gardens in the City and Township (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Community gardens in Langley City and the Township of Langley will remain closed.

On Sunday, Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) executive director Nichole Marples said “confusion” about the status of the gardens after the provincial government declared them an essential service resulted in an incorrect statement that they were being reopened.

“At this point neither municipality has provided an update on the garden closures in light of the provincial essential service designation,” Marples said.

“I have been notified that they remain closed at this time.”

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the provincial government declared community gardens and other food production services were essential services, ruling they must remain open provided they can ensure the safety of people using them.

READ MORE: Greenthumbs forced out of community gardens amid COVID-19 closures

On Thursday, March 26th, the province included all food production and distribution businesses, including those run by volunteers, on a list of essential services. The list also includes things like farmers markets, subsistence agriculture as well as more industrial forms of agriculture.

READ MORE: Langley community gardens are growing in popularity

Before the COVID-19 virus outbreak, LEPS was readying their newest community garden at Douglas Park, but the unveiling and inaugural use have been postponed.

Discussions about opening a new garden at Rotary Centennial Park in Langley City have also been halted.



dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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